Tweeter amps.
04-10-2004, 08:41 AM
#1
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,783
Just when you thought it was safe to talk about subs and sub amps again! [img]smile.gif[/img]
The following assumes that all drivers will be actively crossed over, with zero passive X.O.s connected.
2 topics here, amp quality, and amp power.
I was pondering the value of having a really high quality tweeter amp. (for a few months) So, I asked an expert, my Dad.
His response was pretty simple, and it made sense.
"In a car the midrange is probably more critical. There is so much going against getting good hi frequency in a car, that throwing good money at it(tweeter amp) won't cure it."
To simplify this even further, any amount of clarity that could be gained with a super high end tweeter amp, would be lost in the many relected waves present in the car.
Aside from amps that like to grossly distort a signal, it seams there may not be much to gain from buying a top end amp for tweeters. I'd like to put this to a test of course, and I'll be sure to let you all know my findings. The possible scenario would be a basic Kenwood 2 channel low power amp against my Audison VRx2.400. How's that for extreme ends of the spectrum?
How much power does a tweeter need?
Well I'm once again going recomend a light read through this:
http://sound.westhost.com/bi-amp.htm
Go to section 3.3
For those that don't like to read the techno mumbo jumbo, it's recomeneded that about 35% of the value of the midrange power is used for a tweeter with an X.O. point of 3khz. So for example, you are running your mids off of a 100 watt/ch. amp. You should use a 35+ watt/ch amplifier for the tweeters.
The formula there can help you out if you are using more or less power and/or a different X.O. point for your tweeter.
The bottom line is, you don't have to have equal power to your midrange and tweeter to net the same output.
Adam
The following assumes that all drivers will be actively crossed over, with zero passive X.O.s connected.
2 topics here, amp quality, and amp power.
I was pondering the value of having a really high quality tweeter amp. (for a few months) So, I asked an expert, my Dad.
His response was pretty simple, and it made sense.
"In a car the midrange is probably more critical. There is so much going against getting good hi frequency in a car, that throwing good money at it(tweeter amp) won't cure it."
To simplify this even further, any amount of clarity that could be gained with a super high end tweeter amp, would be lost in the many relected waves present in the car.
Aside from amps that like to grossly distort a signal, it seams there may not be much to gain from buying a top end amp for tweeters. I'd like to put this to a test of course, and I'll be sure to let you all know my findings. The possible scenario would be a basic Kenwood 2 channel low power amp against my Audison VRx2.400. How's that for extreme ends of the spectrum?
How much power does a tweeter need?
Well I'm once again going recomend a light read through this:
http://sound.westhost.com/bi-amp.htm
Go to section 3.3
For those that don't like to read the techno mumbo jumbo, it's recomeneded that about 35% of the value of the midrange power is used for a tweeter with an X.O. point of 3khz. So for example, you are running your mids off of a 100 watt/ch. amp. You should use a 35+ watt/ch amplifier for the tweeters.
The formula there can help you out if you are using more or less power and/or a different X.O. point for your tweeter.
The bottom line is, you don't have to have equal power to your midrange and tweeter to net the same output.
Adam
04-10-2004, 07:03 PM
#2
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,239
I have my mids bridged off a 4 channel amp (200w x2)and the tweeters running off the deck(20w x 2).
Soon I will hook the up the tweeters to the 4 channel and unbridge the amp. I cant wait to see the difference with the tweeter but on the other hand, I am wonder whats going to happen with the mids... hopefully its not as bad as I think.
Soon I will hook the up the tweeters to the 4 channel and unbridge the amp. I cant wait to see the difference with the tweeter but on the other hand, I am wonder whats going to happen with the mids... hopefully its not as bad as I think.
04-11-2004, 06:36 PM
#3
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,649
Hey Adam.............
[img]graemlins/dawg.gif[/img]
And I bet your old man is right. Only thing I'd add is that instead of getting a high end amp costing mega bucks, better to go into a mid grade. Don't tank into the junky bling-bling stuff.
[ April 11, 2004, 07:37 PM: Message edited by: dawgsbreakfast ]
[img]graemlins/dawg.gif[/img]
And I bet your old man is right. Only thing I'd add is that instead of getting a high end amp costing mega bucks, better to go into a mid grade. Don't tank into the junky bling-bling stuff.
[ April 11, 2004, 07:37 PM: Message edited by: dawgsbreakfast ]
04-11-2004, 06:45 PM
#4
I'm gonna use US 2000X's on each of my tweeters. 
I think it goes back to the same old story....once you have your install perfected so to speak, and you have the best of the best in equipment, it's the minor details that really smooth things out in the sound...like you COULD run LRx amps on your whole system and it would sound better than most systems out there(provided install is good) but because your install is already good, you buy VRx amps that really reveal all the little details...or you could go to a VRx EX, or HR-100, that's a whole different world compared to an LRx.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, power doesn't hurt anything, your system sounds great now, why skimp on the minor details this late in the game.
I think it goes back to the same old story....once you have your install perfected so to speak, and you have the best of the best in equipment, it's the minor details that really smooth things out in the sound...like you COULD run LRx amps on your whole system and it would sound better than most systems out there(provided install is good) but because your install is already good, you buy VRx amps that really reveal all the little details...or you could go to a VRx EX, or HR-100, that's a whole different world compared to an LRx.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, power doesn't hurt anything, your system sounds great now, why skimp on the minor details this late in the game.
04-12-2004, 02:00 AM
#5
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,783
Let me spell it out a bit clearer.
Audison VRx2.150 or Arc Audio XXK 2100
Gratuituous picture posting:
...and the HR-100 is no longer avialable from the factory. It is a monster to mount though, measuring over 30 inches in length. Look at the above pictures of my trunk, the VRx amps are a only 23 inches in length. Hard to imagine going larger...
...and where exactly is this tweeter amp supposed to go Tom?
Adam
Audison VRx2.150 or Arc Audio XXK 2100
Gratuituous picture posting:
...and the HR-100 is no longer avialable from the factory. It is a monster to mount though, measuring over 30 inches in length. Look at the above pictures of my trunk, the VRx amps are a only 23 inches in length. Hard to imagine going larger...
...and where exactly is this tweeter amp supposed to go Tom?
Adam
04-12-2004, 08:21 AM
#7
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 206
Your Dad is saying something you need to listen to.
60-70% of what your system will reproduce will be in that midrange area (200-2-3khz) Maximize your reproduction ablity in that area.
I've run tweeters off of 20X2 upto 500X2
You just need to make sure your level setting is rigth........thats another story
60-70% of what your system will reproduce will be in that midrange area (200-2-3khz) Maximize your reproduction ablity in that area.
I've run tweeters off of 20X2 upto 500X2
You just need to make sure your level setting is rigth........thats another story
